Campanula plant named ‘Camp Bule’

ABSTRACT

A new  campanula  plant particularly distinguished by small to medium-sized blue-violet, bell-shaped flowers, floriferous with the flowers borne well-above the foliage, an early flowering response, deep green and slightly glossy foliage with small, cordate leaves, a compact, well-branched growth habit and a mainly tight and bushy to later partly decumbent plant habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Campanula hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Camp Bule’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofcampanula, botanically known as Campanula hybrid, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Camp Bule’. The new cultivaroriginated from a hybridization made in May 1995 in Andijk, TheNetherlands. The female parent was ‘CR-37-2’, a proprietary (unpatented)interspecific blue-flowered campanula plant, while the male parent was‘CR-40-2’, a proprietary (unpatented) interspecific blue-floweredcampanula plant. The seeds produced by the hybridization were sown inFebruary 1996, and the resulting seedlings were selected in July 1996. Asingle plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and for asexualpropagation in 1997.

The new cultivar was created in 1995 in Andijk, The Netherlands and hasbeen asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissuein Andijk, The Netherlands over a nine-year period. ‘Camp Bule’ has alsobeen trialed at Hillscheid, Germany. The present invention has beenfound to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Canada onMar. 21, 2006 and with the European Union on Jan. 24, 2005.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Andijk, The Netherlands and Hillscheid,Germany.

-   -   1. Small to medium-sized blue-violet, bell-shaped flowers;    -   2. Floriferous with the flowers borne well-above the foliage;    -   3. An early flowering response;    -   4. Deep green and slightly glossy foliage with small, cordate        leaves;    -   5. A compact, well-branched plant habit; and    -   6. A mainly tight and bushy, later partly decumbent growth        habit.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new campanula plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage ofthe plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of 5-month-oldplants grown in a greenhouse in Andijk, The Netherlands in May 2003.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Camp Bule’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inAndijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken partly on 5-weekold plants, still in a vegetative state and grown in Hillscheid,Germany. Rooted cuttings were planted in 10.5-cm pots and grown in agreenhouse. The plants were not pinched. Flower observations were madeon 35-week-old plants in fall of 2005. Color readings were taken undernatural light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Campanulaceae.        -   Botanical.—Campanula hybrid.        -   Common name.—Bellflower.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘CR-37-2’, a proprietary interspecific            blue-flowered campanula plant (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘CR-40-2’, a proprietary interspecific            blue-flowered campanula plant (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Form.—Herbaceous perennial; continuously flowers under            long-day conditions (late spring through early fall); for            commercial purposes, the variety can be cultivated as an            annual.        -   Habit.—Free-branching with many upright, flexible stems,            tight and bushy, later partly decumbent plant habit.        -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—10 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—12 cm.        -   Propagation.—Terminal tips for cutting.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—10 to 13 weeks            for a 10 cm to 12 cm pot.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use in small containers or in            flower borders.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—21 days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and white.-   Stems:    -   -   Average number (per plant).—15 to 17.        -   Length.—10 cm to 14 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.5 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter (at midpoint).—0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 145A (light-green) at the midpoint and deeper,            RHS 144B, near the tips.        -   Anthocyanin.—Occasionally RHS 174A near the base.        -   Texture.—Smooth and sparsely pubescent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Size.—Length (fully expanded): 2.0 cm. Width: 2.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Mostly cordate to nearly round.        -   Margin.—Somewhat serrate.        -   Apex.—Mainly obtuse.        -   Base.—Weakly cordate, nearly truncate.        -   Color.—Immature leaves: Upper surface: RHS 137C. Lower            surface: RHS 137D. Mature leaves: General: Deep green. Upper            surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 137D.        -   Texture.—Glabrous and weakly glossy.        -   Venation.—Between palmate and pinnate.        -   Venation color.—RHS 144D for the midrib, lower surface.        -   Petioles.—Length: 1.0 cm to 2.3 cm. Width: 0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.            Color: Upper surface: RHS 137D. Lower surface: RHS 145A.            Texture: Smooth with a few short hairs.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Shape.—Narrow and oval (elongated) with deep furrows.        -   Size.—Length: 1.3 cm. Diameter: 0.6 cm.        -   Color at tight bud.—RHS 92A (light-blue) at the tip; RHS 92D            for the rest of the bud.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous under long-day conditions.        -   Inflorescence type.—Peduncles emerge from the leaf axils of            the upper nodes and inflorescence is mostly upright            directed.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—About 2 to 5 flowers            and buds.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 14            days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Length.—8.0 cm to 9.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Peduncel.—Length: Up to 8 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.            Color: RHS 143B (green). Texture: Glabrous.        -   Pedicels.—Length: 1.0 cm to 3.0 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Color:            RHS 143A (green). Anthocyanin: Absent. Texture: Glabrous.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower type.—Solitary, round (actinomorphic) and            campanulate.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Bell-shaped with somewhat pointed lobes;            composed of 5 petals that are mainly fused and open slightly            outwards. Size: Diameter: 2.5 cm. Depth: 1.4 cm. Color:            General: Violet-blue. Outer surface: RHS 92A. Inner surface:            RHS 91A.        -   Petals.—Size (from the opening): Length: 0.8 cm. Width:            1.0 cm. Quantity: 5. Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Fused.            Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous.        -   Calyx.—Composed of 5 sepals fused at the base.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Color: Upper surface: RHS 137A to RHS            139A (deep green). Lower surface: RHS 137A. Length: 0.4 cm.            Width: 0.1 cm at the base. Shape: Narrow, lanceolate,            reflexed. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Mostly entire,            occasionally single notches. Texture: Glabrous, glossy.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5 and upward-directed; close to the lower            part of the style. Filament: Color: RHS N155D (white).            Length: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm at the            base and 0.1 cm under the stamen. Anther: Color: RHS N187A.            Size: Length: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm.            Pollen: Color: RHS 162D (yellowish). Amount: Moderate.        -   Pistil.—Quantity: 1. Length: 1.7 cm. Stigma: Color: RHS 157D            (palest green-white). Shape: 3-lobed with            brush-like-arranged hair below the stigma. Style: Color: RHS            N155A (whitish) at the lower part and RHS 92B (light-blue)            at the upper part. Length: 1.2 cm to 1.3 cm.        -   Ovary.—Type: Intermediate (neither superior nor inferior).            Shape: Ovate. Length: 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm.            Color: RHS 145A (pale green).-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: No special observations made.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Camp Bule’ differs from the female parent ‘CR-37-2’ (unpatented) inthat ‘Camp Bule’ has smaller bell-shaped flowers, while ‘CR-37-2’ hascup-shaped flowers. Additionally, ‘Camp Bule’ has a lighter flower colorand smaller leaves than ‘CR-37-2’.

‘Camp Bule’ differs from the male parent ‘CR-40-2’ (unpatented) in that‘Camp Bule’ has larger and deeper blue flowers than ‘CR-40-2’.

‘Camp Bule’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Bavaria Blue’(unpatented) in that ‘Camp Bule’ has larger, deeper-blue flowers than‘Bavaria Blue’.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of campanula plant as shown and describedherein.